Latch-combined tension hook and clamp jaw mechanism



Feb. 4, 1969 o. A. SWANSON 3,425,727

7 COMBINED TENSION HOOK AND CLAMP JAW MECHANISM 1 LATCH Filed July 22, 1966 32 3/ 29 3o 33 as INVENTOQ Oscar A Fred Swa nson United States Patent Office 3,425,727 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a latch mechanism comprising a jaw member pivoted on a support, tension hook pivoted on the jaw member and a release member associated with the jaw member. The jaw member and hook member are disposed so as to clamp a door edge or keeper therebetween.

This invention relates to a combined tension hook and clamp jaw mechanism latch which is adapted to doors requiring quick access and the like in substantially flush relationship to their outer surface. This invention will result in greatly increased rigidity of the doors upon which it is installed.

The general object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism having a combined tension hook and clamp jaw to effect very positive locking of doors.

A further object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism with extreme ease of operation and which is easily adjustable to compensate for various dimensional tolerances.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of my combined tension hook and clamp jaw mechanism latch embodying a preferred form of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the invention, wherein the section is taken substantially as indicated by line 22 and accompanying arrows in FIGURE 1, the latch mechanism being shown in its latched position and the door on which it is installed is illustrated fragmentarily in dot and dash lines;

FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view of my invention, wherein the latch mechanism is shown in its released position and the door upon which it is installed is illustrated fragmentarily in dot and dash lines;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of my combined tension hook and clamp jaw mechanism latch wherein the mechanism used to actuate said combined tension hook and clamp jaw is of modified arrangement;

FIGURE 5 is a side sectional view of the invention, wherein the section is taken substantially as indicated by line 5--5 and accompanying arrows in FIGURE 4, the latch mechanism being shown in its latched position and the door on which it is installed is illustrated fragmentarily in dot and dash lines;

FIGURE 6 is a side sectional view of my invention, wherein the latch mechanism is shown in its released position and the door upon which it is installed is illustrated fragmentarily in dot and dash lines;

In use, the latch illustrated in FIGURES 1-3, is of the trigger type, wherein depression of the trigger manually by finger results in its release of the clamp jaw allowing it to rotate to the unlatch position, while simultaneously the clamp jaw rotation effects release of the tension hook which is supported by and pivotly attached to said clamp jaw. In the latched position, the clamp jaw is held in a position clamped against the door jamb by its engagement with the trigger. The clamp jaw rotation to the latched position effects engagement of the tension hook with the door jamb structure to result in a tension locking of the mechanism to said jamb. A torsion spring having its coil portion surrounding the trigger support pin is utilized to forcibly hold said trigger in the latched position and cause it to return to the latched position when released.

A torsion spring having its coil portion surrounding the clamp jaw support pin is utilized to hold said clamp jaw in the latched position against the trigger and to cause the rotation to the fully unlatched position.

A torsion spring having its coil portion surrounding the tension hook support pin attachment to the clamp jaw is utilized to hold the tension hook in the unlatched position appropriate for engagement. In use, the latch illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 6, is biased to the latched or unlatched positions by manual movement of the latch actuator and held in those positions by a torsion spring. Manual movement of the latch actuator effects a rotational movement of a clamp jaw which in turn causes a motion to a tension hook which is supported by and pin attached to said clamp jaw. The rotational movement imparted to the clamp jaw effects its clamping or unclamping to a door jamb member while simultaneously the rotational movement of the clamp jaw causes engagement and disengagement of the tension hook to the door jamb member.

A torsion spring is utilized to bias the mechanism to open and closed positions.

A second torsion spring is utilized to exert force against the tension hook to position it appropriate for engagement to latched position.

Having references to the drawings, and particularly FIGURES 1 to 3 inclusive, my combined tension hook and clamp jaw mechanism 10 has a support mounting bracket 11 having a mounting surface 12 and having holes 13 therein for inserting means, such as rivets 14, by which the support mounting bracket 11 is fastened to a door structure 15. The support mounting bracket 11 has lug portions 16 and 17 parallel longitudinally to and symmetrical to the longitudinal center line of the latch 10.

A trigger 18, of flat plate and channel construction, fits moveably betweenthe lug portions 16 of the support mounting bracket 11 to allow a rocking movement for engagement or disengagement to clamp jaw. A cross pin 19 extending through aligned holes in lug portions 16 of support bracket 11 and through the longitudinal portion of the trigger 18 for its support for rocking movement.

A clamp jaw 20, consisting of a formed channel member which fits moveablybetween lugs 17 of the support bracket 11.

A cross pin 21 extending through aligned. holes in lugs 17 of the support bracket 11 and through the longitudinal portion of the clamp jaw 20 for its support for rocking movement.

A tension hook 22, is rotationally attached to the clamp jaw 20 by a cross pin 23 to provide an operating connection. The actuation of the latch mechanism causes rotational movement of the clamp jaw 20 which in turn causes movement to the tension hook 22 to accomplish its engagement or disengagement to door jam member 24.

A spring 25, of the torsion type, with its coiled portion surrounding the cross pin is utilized to forcibly hold the trigger 18 in the latched or unlatched positions.

A spring 26, of the torsion type, with its coiled portion surrounding the cross pin 21 is utilized to hold the clamp jaw in the latched position against the trigger 1-8 and to cause rotation of said clamp jaw to the fully unlatched position.

A spring 27, of the torsion type, with its coiled portion surrounding the cross pin 23 attachment to the clamp jaw 20 is utilized to hold the tension hook 22 in a position uyplupflate for engagement to door jamb member 24. The door jamb is designated by the number 28.

Having reference to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES 4 to 6 inclusive, my combined tension hook and clamp jaw mechanism is depicted in a toggle latch. My combined tension hook and clamp jaw latch 29 has a support mounting bracket 30 having a mounting surface 31 and having holes 32 therein for inserting means, such as rivets 33, by which the support bracket 30 is fastened to the door structure 34. The support mounting bracket 30 has lugs 35 and 36 parallel longitudinally to and symmetrical to the longitudinal center line of the latch 29.

A latch actuator 37, consisting of a flat plate 38 and a channel member 39 which fits moveably between the lugs 35 of the support bracket 30. The fiat plate 38 extends longitudinally beyond both ends of the support bracket 30.

v A cross pin 40 extending through aligned holes in the lugs 35 of the support bracket 30 and through the longitudinal section of the latch actuator channel member 39 to support it for rocking movement. A clamp jaw 41, located at the opposite end of the support bracket 30 from the latch actuator 37, consisting of channel form with integral lug portion 42, and supported for limited rotational movement between the lugs 36 of the support bracket 30 by a cross pin 43. The cross pins 40 and 43 being on fixed axes in parallel alignment to each other.

A link 44, consisting of channel form, is connect between the latch actuator 37 and the clamp jaw 41 to provide an operating connection and extends between their adjacent and aligned end portions and is moveably connected thereto by cross pin 45 at the latch actuator 37 end and cross pin 46 at the clamp jaw 41 end.

A tension hook 47 is rotationally attached to lug portion 42 of the clamp jaw 41 by a cross pin 48 to provide an operating connection. The actuation of the latch mechanism causes a rotational movement of the latch clamp jaw 41 which in turn causes movement to the tension hook 47 to accomplish its engagement or disengagement to a door jamb member 49. The tension hook 47 is provided with means to hook on to door jamb member 49 at its end opposite from its connection to the clamp jaw 41.

A spring 50, of the torsion type, with coiled portion surrounding the cross pin 46 of the link 44 and clamp jaw 41 connection, and having two end portions one of which is supported by the link 44 and the other attached to the pin 43, is used to bias the mechanism parts toward the position to which they are last operated.

A spring 51, of the torsion type, with coiled portion surrounding the cros spin 48 which connects the tension hook 47 to the clamp jaw 41, and having two end por tions one of which bears against the underside of the tension hook 47 and the other being attached to the cross p The door jamb 52 is depicted by dot and dash lines and provides support for the door jamb member 49.

From the above description of the invention in which it is shown incorporated in two differing arrangements, the underlying principles thereof will be readily gathered. It is of course to be understood, however, that the particular embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are for illustrative purposes only, and that various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A latch mechanism having two grasping elements for simultaneous dual latching, the combination comprisa clamp jaw pivotly pin supported by a support bracket;

a tension hook pivotly pin supported by the clamp jaw;

said clamp jaw having a clamping surface disposed opposite said hook;

a trigger pivotly supported by means of a pin through the support bracket;

a torsion spring having coils encompassing the pin connecting the tension hook to the clamp jaw, mounted under stress, and exerting an upward force against the tension hook;

a torsion spring having coils encompassing the pins attaching the trigger and the clamp jaw to the support bracket and exerting force to hold the mechanism in the latched or unlatched positions.

2. A latch mechanism having two grasping elements for simultaneous dual latching, the combination comprising:

a clamp jaw pivotly pin supported by a support bracket;

a tension hook pivotly pin supported by the clamp jaw;

said clamp jaw having a clamping surface disposed opposite said hook;

a trigger pivotly pin supported by the support bracket;

a torsion spring having coils encompassing the pin connecting the tension hook to the clamp jaw, mounted under stress, and exerting an upward force against the tension hook;

a torsion spring having coils encompassing the pins attaching the trigger and the clamp jaw to the support bracket and exerting force to hold the mechanism in the latched or unlatched positions;

said mechanism having simultaneous dual latching of the clamp jaw and the tension hook when manual movement is applied directly by finger to the tension hook;

said tension hook having a hook end movement along a path adjacent to the door covering between latched and unlatched positions.

3. A latch mechanism having two grasping elements for simultaneous dual latching, the combination comprising:

a clamp jaw pivotly pin supported by a support bracket;

a tension hook pivotly pin supported by the clamp jaw;

said clamp jaw having a clamping surface disposed opposite said hook;

a trigger pivotly pin supported by the support bracket;

a torsion spring having coils encompassing the pin connecting the tension hook to the clamp jaw, mounted under stress, and exerting an upward force against the tension hook;

a torsion spring having coils encompassing the pins attaching the trigger and the clamp jaw to the support bracket and exerting force to hold the mechanism in the latched or unlatched positions;

said mechanism having simultaneous dual latching of the clamp jaw and the tension hook when manual movement is applied directly by finger to the clamp 4. A latch mechanism having two grasping elements for simultaneous dual latching, the combination comprising:

a clamp jaw pivotly pin connected and supported by a support bracket and having a jaw end;

a tension hook pivotly pin supported by the clamp jaw and having a hook end;

a trigger pivotly pin supported by the support bracket;

a torsion spring having coils encompassing the pin connecting the tension hook to the clamp jaw, mounted under stress, and exerting an upward force against the tension hook to cause spreading of the grasping ends of the tension hook and the clamp jaw in the unlatched position;

a torsion spring having coils encompassing the pins encompassing the pins attaching the trigger and the clamp jaw to the support bracket and exerting force to hold the mechanism in the latched or unlatched positions;

said tension hook and the clamp jaw grasping the door jamb member between their respective hook and jaw ends in the mechanism latched position.

5. A latch mechanism having two grasping elements for simultaneous dual latching, wherein the mechanism is of trigger release type, and wherein the two grasping elements are a tension hook and a clamp jaw pivotly connected together, said tension book being supported by the clamp jaw, said clamp jaw having a limited rotation movement in being actuated to latched or unlatched positions and having a clamping surface disposed opposite said hook, means effecting drawing movement to the tension hook to cause simultaneous latching or unlatching with the clamp jaw upon movement of the clamp jaw.

6. A latch mechanism having two grasping elements for simultaneous dual latching, the combination comprising:

a clamp jaw pivotly pin supported by a support bracket;

a tension hook pivotly pin supported by the clamp jaw;

said clamp jaw having a clamping surface disposed opposite said hook;

a torsion spring having coils encompassing the pin connecting the tension hook to the clamp jaw, mounted under stress, and exerting a force against the tension hook to cause spreading of the grasping ends of the tension hook and the clamp jaw in the unlatched position;

a latch actuator pivotly pin supported by the support bracket;

a link connected to the latch actuator and the clamp jaw hingedly with two pins;

a torsion spring supported by the pin connecting the link to the clamp jaw, mounted under stress, and acting to hold the mechanism in latched or unlatched positions.

7. A latch mechanism having two grasping elements for simultaneous dual latching, the combination comprising:

a clamp jaw pivotly pin supported by a support bracket and having a jaw end;

a tension hook pivotly pin supported by the clamp jaw and having a hook end;

a torsion spring having coils encompassing the pin connecting the tension hook to the clamp jaw, mounted under stress, and exerting a force against the tension hook and the clamp jaw to cause spreading of their grasping ends in the unlatched position;

a latch actuator pivotly pin supported by the support bracket;

a link having its ends hingedly connected to the latch actuator and the clamp jaw;

a torsion spring supported by the pin connecting the link to the clamp jaw, mounted under stress, and act ing to hold the mechanism in the latched or unlatched positions;

said tension hook and the clamp jaw grasping the door jamb member between their respective hook and jaw ends in the mechanism latched position;

said clamp jaw having limited rotation movement in being actuated to the latched or unlatched positions;

said movement of the clamp jaw elfecting drawing movement to the tension hook to cause its simultaneous latching or unlatching;

said drawing movement of the tension hooks hook end being in substantially a straight line adjacent to the underneath side of the door covering.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,921,810 1/1960 Smith 292-113 3,047,321 7/1962 Gander 292223 3,214,207 10/ 1965 Swanson 292-66 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

JOHN R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

